Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-01-13

| r1ety OF Gne products of our iano anc Hasers
put that 1t is in their business to first ascertain
how and then instruct our people how to eco
! nomlcaily increase the supply OF all KINDS OF
| looo IN order that our large and increasing
matter every one is interested in, and as these
boards are doing good work in that direction, !
nope you will grant them sufficient money 70
meet all proper expenses incurred IN their
| use1ul and gratuitous labors.
| RAILROADS.
That class of common carriers known as rail
| ROAD companies. has become numerous and
Inelr services to the people SO necessary. that
we can not dispense with them. Indeed, we
can not allow the operations of the trains to
! cease, either by the voluntary action OF
tnelr managers or by the opposition offered
Dy others, for even a few days because it puts
70! 70 snch great Inconvenience and loss the pub
nc, IN whose interest and for whose benefit
tnelf peculiar organization and construction
was authorized Twice during the past two
years, nave we experienced the inconvenience
ana loss arising from this source. The first
was IN consequence of the strike of March, 1885.
D9urlng the strike the danger OF loss OF life
ana destruction of great deal of valuable
property appeared to me imminent that I
calied upon the State military forces. Happily,
the disturbances were quelled, and quiet and
2ooo order were restored without resort to
actual force, without even taking the soldiers
70 Inc point OF greatest disturbance. The other
was during the strike of March. 1886. It. too.
was settled after several weeks of virtual cessa-
iron OF business with the attendant inconven-
renee ano loss to all parties concerned, without
resort 10 force. l did not even call the State
i,nlntary to arms. did, however. issue proc
Iamatlon calling upon the railway company to
resume traffic, and warning all persons against
opposing any obstacle whatever in the way OF
such resumption
=. IN that proclamation I stated clearly as
tne nlnltS OF such document permitted, my no.
lions OF the relation of the railways to the pub
lie, and the consequent obligations resting up
on lnem. The last State Democratic conven-
tioh, as you. gem iemen, viii remember, deemed
tne railroad corporations n sufficiently lmpor-
tant factor in our State politics to make es-
peclal mention of them in their platform: and
| think nriEciDlpS
subject.
The foregoing sketch plainly proves, if such
PROOF De necessary, that not only should this
subject of railway corporations receive your
careful and earnest attention, because of their
very extensive operations, but also, and espe-
ciany, because there is evidently something
radically wrong: from which wrong the people
are liable to suffer injury. 1t is not right that
ers. or both, get to quarreling among them
selves, they shall put stop to puolic service
until they settle their petty private stGifes in
which the public have no concern; and which
quarrels are in no important particular differ
ent from the altercations arising between any
other citizens of the States. They should
be made to settle these strifes among
themselves without involving the
business arrangements of the people
actually endailSer the peace of the State and
the safety of the lives and property of her citi
devising, and the authority to provide means of
preventing these pernicious and dangerous
practices rest with you, gentlemen. I pledge
the Chief Executive to vigorously execute all
laws to that end.
I call your particular attention to the follow
ing sections of Article - OF our State Constitu-
ton: Section Z, prohibiting corporations from
engaging in 'other business than that express
ty authorized in its scharter:' also section 8,
fixing the conditions under which corporations
may issue stock or bonds. and prohibiting all
fictitious increase OF stock: also and very eS-
pcciaily. section IA, which declares railways to
be public highways, and the companies operat-
ing them common carriers; it also directs
correct abuses and prevent unjust dsclimina-
ton and cXtortiOn. and to fix maximum rates
of charges and ''enfo ce all such laws by ade-
Quate penaltics:'' also section II, which pro-
hibits the consolidation of parallel Compel
ing lines under one management; also section
p, which prohibits the president and any other
officers of any railroad company being inter-
ested directly or indirectly in furnishing ma
terial or supplies TO such company: also sec
ton 81. which prohibits railroad and other
transportation companies from granting free
passes or tickets to members of The General
Assembly" OF members of the Board of Equal
iZation, or any State. or county, or municipal
officer.
l also deem worthy of your consideration
what the Railroad Commissioners say page
. of their eleventh annual report about rem
edy for the defects of our present law OF rates.
1t is plainly and ind!sputably proper and right
Tor the representatives of its people to provide
the legislative enactments necessary or ex-
pedent to enforce and execute those laws and
principles which the people themselves have
enacted ana declare in their constitution.